9/03/1981: Maiden Flight of the Prototype BAe 146

DALLAS — Today, in 1981, the prototype British Aerospace BAe 146 took to the skies for the first time from Hatfield, Hertfordshire.

First launched in August 1973 as the Hawker Siddeley (HS) 146, it was designed to fill the gap between turboprops such as the HS 748 and Fokker F27 and small jets such as the BAC One-Eleven and Boeing 737.

However, the project was quickly shelved following the 1973 oil crisis and subsequent economic downturn. HS was absorbed into the nationalized BAe in 1977, and the project was resurrected.

Entry into Service

The 146 was marketed as a low-maintenance, low-operating-cost feeder jet airliner designed for regional and short-haul markets.

Líneas Aéreas Privadas Argentinas (MJ) placed the first order for the type in June 1981. It entered revenue service with Dan Air on May 27, 1983, with a flight between London Gatwick (LGW) and Bern (BRN).

Highlighting the type's short take-off and landing (STOL) capabilities, the flight was the first commercial jet service into the small airport serving the Swiss capital.

Additionally, the Bae 146/Avro RJ revolutionized operations at London City Airport (LCY) and was the only jet allowed to fly to and from the facility for many years.

Variants

Three variants of the 146 were built: -100, -200, and -300. In 1992, BAe announced an upgrade to the aircraft, now referred to as the Avro 'Regional Jet' (RJ). Models included the RJ70, RJ85, and RJ100. Changes included new turbofan engines and an upgraded flight deck and avionics.

A further upgrade, dubbed the AvroRJX, was announced in 2000. However, the project never got off the ground and was canceled in November 2001. Production of the RJ, once referred to as “The world’s quietest jetliner,” ended in late 2003.

The featured image shows the prototype flying onSeptember 3, 1981.